Skopje, 28 April 2026 (MIA) – The six-year EU-funded “EU for Municipalities” (EU4M) Programme has been wrapped up Tuesday by awarding EU4M Municipal Excellence Labels (EUMEL) to municipalities and planning regions for their achievements in several areas, including the management of EU-funded projects, increasing revenues, financial management, cross-border cooperation, resilience, tourism development and strengthening administrative capacities.

Minister of Local Self-Government Zlatko Perinski underlined that the results achieved through the “EU for Municipalities” Programme are visible, measurable and of exceptional importance for local communities across the country.

“The European Union is our strategic partner, and the funds made available play a key role in advancing national and local policies as well as in improving services for citizens. Only through a joint approach, strong partnership and coordinated action can we build a functional, efficient, and sustainable system - a system that citizens truly deserve,” Perinski said.

He noted that European Union integration is not merely a political goal, but a process of fundamental reforms, strong commitment and systematic work in shaping policies for a better quality of life for all citizens.

According to Perinski, support for municipalities is focused on continuous investment in capital projects, strengthening financial stability through the improvement and updating of taxpayer databases, and providing expert and technical assistance through the municipal resource center. Priorities for digitalization have already been defined, and the process of preparing and implementing the first unified municipal e-services has begun.

In the first phase, four services are set to be digitalized: a certificate of a building’s legal status, approval for the use of public and green areas, approval for connection to communal infrastructure and an extract from the detailed urban plan.

All municipal services both those already developed and those yet to be digitalized, will be available through the national e-services portal uslugi.gov.mk, Perinski said.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Zoran Ljutkov underscored the importance for balanced regional development as a key prerequisite for long-term economic growth and stability. Development, he noted, should not be concentrated in just a few centers, but should evenly include all regions of the country, creating new opportunities for local communities. In this context, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, together with the Government and the Tourism Council, has launched activities to draft a national tourism strategy, in which destination management and the tourism development of municipalities will play a significant role.

“Our goal is to build a systemic approach that will enable a sustainable, coordinated, and competitive tourism sector,” Ljutkov said, highlighting the recognitions awarded to the municipalities of Rosoman, Gevgelija, Kavadarci, and Edessa in Greece, which, he noted, demonstrated leadership, initiative, and the ability to work together towards a common goal, advancing the region as an attractive tourist destination.

Ljutkov added that local development is the key to national progress, stressing that the commitment and innovation of municipalities are driving forces in enhancing the tourism offer and positioning the country as an attractive and competitive destination.

According to the European Union Ambassador Michalis Rokas, “EU for Municipalities” (EU4M) Programme is a very successful project, with results showing that the EU is a reliable partner through its support for municipalities.

“Over the past six years, all 81 municipalities have been supported through the programme, promoting capacity building,” Rokas said.
Rokas said that during visits to several municipalities, he saw committed efforts by local teams to improve service efficiency, while stressing that more work remains to be done. He also underscored the EU’s financial support for cross-border and interregional cooperation.

Minister of European Affairs Bekim Sali emphasized that it is not only the Government that integrates into the EU, but that citizens should experience the process through municipalities.

“Through the six-year project, training has been delivered to 1,400 municipal administration employees to strengthen capacities for attracting investments through EU programmes,” Sali said.

As a result of the programme, 274 EU-funded Interreg projects include partners from municipalities and planning regions in the country, while support has also been provided for 88 cross-border projects with neighboring countries.

Photo: MIA